United Kingdom

UK - Pension funds returned 1.3% over the three months to August 31, according to HSBC Actuaries and Consultants.

UK - Austria has taken to alternative investments faster than other European pension markets, says RMB International head of business development Jeremy Beswick (pictured).

UK - UK pension scheme assets grew less than schemes in any other developed country in 2003 according to research by Watson Wyatt.

UK - Turner & Newellís administrators have been granted an emergency High Court hearing to challenge a plan which could result in huge cuts to members' benefits.

UK - Human resources outsourcing and consulting services provider Hewitt Associates has announced the completion of its merger with Exult Inc.

UK - Specialist investment management consulting firm Citisoft has expanded its compliance capabilities with the appointment of David Roy, who will provide services to Citisoft's global clients for front office projects.

UK - Trustees from the UK's biggest pension schemes are not receiving sufficient training, institutional broker Instinet claims.

UK - Rowe Price International have appointed Kamran Baig (pictured) as head of non-US equity research.

UK - Midas Capital Partners has achieved returns of 21.9% for the year to June 2004 on its pooled pension fund.

UK - Schemes must be wary of the ‘hype' surrounding hedge funds and should look at other alternative asset classes instead, the private investor network Hotbed claims.